By AARON BOYD
boyd@du2.byu.edu
The deadline for filing taxes has passed, and students at BYU found several ways to get the job done in time.
The IRS has offered several ways to report taxes this year, from the Internet to telefiling to traditional mail-in forms. So how did BYU students go about it?
'I filed my taxes by telefile,' said Mike Clegg, a senior from Orem majoring in Spanish. 'It only took me 10 minutes to do both state and federal taxes. The IRS sent the papers to me, and I just decided to try it out. I'll probably do it the same way next year.'
The IRS is seeking to make filing taxes a painless and simple process, but there are still terms and processes contained in the forms that many find hard to understand. Some students found additional assistance elsewhere.
Derek Nance, a sophomore from Maine majoring in theater arts, said he prefers to let someone else handle the work.
'I felt my dad needed some practice with his math, so I let him do the dirty work,' Nance said. 'Too bad he wouldn't pay the money I owed, too.'
Many students look to their parents for assistance in filing their taxes. Michelle Eggers, a junior from Gilroy, Calif. majoring in elementary education, was able to take advantage of some truly professional assistance from the home front.
'My dad did my taxes,' Eggers said. 'He's a tax accountant. That's his job. All I had to do was sign the papers and send them off.'
Others have used their parents to find the professional help for them.
'My parents' accountant did my taxes. It was easy,' said Brandon Whitesides, a senior from Rupert, Idaho majoring in animal science. 'I didn't know there was help available on campus, otherwise I might have tried it out. Because hey, it's free.'
Help for students reporting taxes was available from the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Lab in the Tanner building until March 3, after which students were on their own to find a way to file.
Brian King, a senior from St. Louis, Mo. majoring in international relations, said he appreciated the help he received in the lab.
'It only took about 10 minutes,' King said. 'They knew exactly what they were doing. They had all the forms you could need, even those from other states. Obtaining those forms yourself is not always that easy.'
Most students found one way or another to file their taxes before the deadline, but there are those who admitted procrastinating until it was too late, or not even filing taxes at all.
'We don't do taxes where I'm from,' said a local student from New York who wished to remain anonymous. 'It's an all-cash business.'
Now that the tax season is past, students and their parents can begin looking forward to next spring when they will be able to apply the new tax laws and make deductions based on tuition.
'I think the government is finally recognizing the cost of education and the burden it places on the family,' said George Burton, the father of a BYU student. 'I have two kids in college; it will definitely help me next year.'